Flexible chain



Sept. 5, 1933.

G. w. JENcKEs FLEXIBLE CHA-IN Filedpril 22, 1932 l 1 v. 1 l-llmm m @aff/7dr Patented Sept. 5, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLEXIBLE CHAIN Rhode Island Application April 22, 1932. Serial N0. 606,793

1 Claim.

My invention relates to iiexible ornamental chains for use in bracelets, armlets, girdles, umbrella handle loops, and like articles of personal adornment.

Essential objects of my invention are extensibility, iiexibility, sightliness, and strength.

Further primary objects of my invention are to enable the utilization of units of identical structure exclusively throughout the chain; to enable the constituent units to be severally formed from sheet blanks, and to be easily assembled, whereby a minimum cost is assured.

To the above ends essentially my invention consists in such parts and in such combinations of parts as fall within the scope of the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this specification,

Figures l and 2 are side elevations of lengths of my chain in contracted and expanded positions respectively,

Figure 3, a fragmentary side elevation of the same flexed,

Figures 4 and 5, fragmentary longitudinal central sections of the chain on lines 4-4 and 5-5 of Figures l and 2 respectively,

Figure 6, a section taken on line 6 6 of Figure 2, and

Figures '7 and 8, side elevations of a unit before and after interlocking engagement.

Like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the views.

My chain, as herein shown, consists of interlocking units of uniform construction and size, stamped, cut, and bent up from sheet metal.

In detail each unit comprises a circular base 17 preferably somewhat forwardly iiaring or cupped provided centrally with a rearwardly directed protuberance I8, and having upon its periphery a series of forwardly directed straight pliable fingers 19 equally interspaced from each other, and, in this instance, slightly inclined outwardly or radially disposed. The intervening spaces or slots are indicated by 20. Upon each nger is a terminal inwardly directed tooth or prong 2l. The widths of the prongs are sufficiently less than that of the slots as to be slidable in the latter.

The units are interengaged by placing one unit loosely within the other with the fingers of one unit in staggered relation to those of the other, and thereafter inwardly compressing the iingers of the rear unit until its prongs are brought through the slots 20 into the path of the base of a forward member. In Figure 7 the unit is shown with the lingers distended as they appear before the compressing operation. In Figure 8 the fingers are shown asrthey appear after the compression operation. Ther compression of the fingers of the several units may be mechanically effected either in succession along the length of the chain, or simultaneously.

As thus assembled the units are longitudinally slidable in each other, thus imparting expansibility to the chain. In full expanded position the prongs of the rear units are in overlapping engagementwith the bases of the forward units. In fully contracted position the prongs of the rear units abut against the bases of forward units.

The described construction allows tilting movement of the units relatively to each other. The chain has, therefore, ample iiexibility enabling the successful knotting of a chain of even moderate length.

In any expanded position of the chain the protuberances obstruct the passage of the light transversely through the chain, and thus impart a more solid and less superficial appearance thereto. v

I claim:-

In a chain construction, a series of interconnected units, each unit consisting of a cupped base and a plurality of spaced peripheral lingers of uniform width, the ends of the iingers being bent inwardly and downwardly and positioned in the spaces between the fingers of the adjacent unit to hook over the rim of the cupped base thereof and to extend thereinto, each cupped base having a central protuberance extending from the back thereof of suhicient length to remain nested in the base of the rear unit when the units are extended to their maximum separation, the bent inwardly finger ends being secured between the protuberances and the base rims when the units are so extended.

GEORGE W. JENCKES. 

